SOURCES: Joe Silva to be named as Red Warriors head coach
Published 23 mins ago on April 26, 2018By Matthew Li

University of the East’s search for a new coach for its Men’s Basketball Team has finally ended.

According to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation, former Ateneo Blue Eaglets head coach Joe Silva is set to be named as the chief tactician of the Red Warriors for the upcoming UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball tournament.

“Yes, he has already said his farewell to Ateneo,” one of Tiebreaker Times’ sources said.

After steering the Blue Eaglets to the UAAP Season 80 Juniors Basketball crown, Silva submitted his resignation from the team. He was then tasked to join Baldwin’s staff in the Men’s Team.

In a direct message to Tiebreaker Times however, Silva said that he has yet to say yes to UE.

Silva took over the Blue Eaglets seven seasons ago in the wake of Jamike Jarin’s promotion to coach the San Beda Red Lions. In his seven-year stay, he collected a 77-20 record while steering Ateneo High School to two championships.

The youthful strategist though will have a tough task rebuilding a Red Warriors squad.

During the last four years, the Red Warriors have struggled in the UAAP’s men’s basketball division, compiling a record of 21-35.

To east the transition, Silva will have former UE Red Warrior Paul Artadi and La Salle Green Hills assistant coach Anton Brodett.

Prior to this, Goldwin Monteverde, Chris Gavina, Koy Banal, Johnny Abarrientos, and Allan Caidic were all linked to the post.

After a number of false starts, University of the East finally has a new head coach all ready and all set to go.

According to several sources, the Red Warriors will be announcing the appointment of two-time UAAP Juniors
champion Joe Silva as new head coach next week. This, confirming the report first broken by Matthew Li of
Tiebreaker Times.

Silva’s hiring will, at long last, put an end to the Recto-based squad’s long, long search for a replacement for
former mentor Derrick Pumaren who resigned late last year. He registered a record of 21-35 in his four years
at the helm for his alma mater.

Asked for comment, Silva responded, “We’re in talks, but nothing is sure yet.”

As per sources, though, UE is already certain to go all-in on a young coach coming off a UAAP Juniors
championship with Ateneo de Manila High School in Season 80. Following that championship, he stepped
down from his position in late March. In all, Silva won two championships for the Blue Eaglets, both
near-season sweeps, and had a 77-20
overall record.

During all that, he had a hand in the development of the likes of Thirdy Ravena, Nieto twins Matt and Mike,
SJ Belangel, Dave Ildefonso, and Kai Sotto. Now, Silva takes the next step in his career as tactician in college
basketball. The good news for him is that both Alvin Pasaol and Philip Manalang will still be wearing red and
white for at least one more season. Both are also already back in training after stints in the PBA D-League.

Still, sources said that Silva, along with team patron Bong Tan and team manager Lawrence Chongson,
remain on the lookout for more talent – possibly even taking in a foreign student-athlete. Along with being UE Seniors head coach, sources also said that Silva will be a consultant for the Junior Warriors
who have been languishing at the bottom of the standings for almost a decade now.

Apparently, both the school and its newly-hired mentor are nothing eager for a culture change for UE’s Seniors and Juniors
basketball programs.

WHEN Derrick Pumaren vacated the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors’ head coaching position, there were a couple of names that were floated around with former King Warrior Allan Caidic looking to be the most probable candidate.

Other names in the mix included another former Red Warrior Paul Artadi, Koy Banal, Chris Gavina and Charles Tiu to name but a few. Then right before the start of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, UE submitted its lineup with Melvin Reyes listed as the coach. While we heard he was the interim coach, we were surprised that a few days ago, former Ateneo Blue Eaglets coach, Joe Silva, who has two University Athletic Association of the Philippines juniors championships under his name, was said to be a prime candidate for the position.

In fact, word is—he is the coach in waiting—unless UE management has a change of heart.

Owing to our friendship with Silva, we asked him straight up and he said he was thinking about it. However, sources from Ateneo say that he already bade his farewell, while several UE players confirmed that internal sources informed them of Silva’s appointment. In my opinion, the official announcement will come in a few days as Silva is with the Blue Eaglets in Hong Kong as part of their reward for bagging the Season 80 Juniors title.

If this is so, it is a massive step up for Silva. While some might lament that he has not coached in the college level, then he has soaked in some experience working on the staff of Tab Baldwin and previously, with Bo Perasol. He has also apprenticed to current National University Head Coach Jamike Jarin back in Ateneo, where they won a smattering of titles.

We have also heard that Artadi will join him on the coaching staff so there will be a “Red Warrior” in the family as Silva suited up for the Blue Eaglets during his playing years Ateneo.

It will be a task and a half to bring the Red Warriors back to where it was. The last time they won was when Caidic and Jerry Codiñera were both in uniform. And that was 33 years ago. Silva knows what it is like. When he inherited the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, they lost players like Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal, Paolo Romero and Jay Javelosa. It took him three years to build a winner. So he knows what it’s all about.

But UE isn’t Ateneo. There’s the rub. But who knows? Maybe, the school will finally get its act together and throw support the new coach’s way?

Let’s backtrack some. Time was, the head coach had to come up from the ranks; a former player who represented the school, if you will. Many schools have bucked that trend, some even dating back to the 1990s. Ateneo—believe it or not—even had former Green Archer Perry Ronquillo coaching them at one point. Ditto with Joe Lipa, Norman Black, Bo Perasol and now Tab Baldwin who all never went to school in Loyola Heights. La Salle’s last two head coaches in Aldin Ayo and Louie Gonzales didn’t even suit up for the green and white. Far Eastern University’s last two coaches played for the blue and white and we’re referring to siblings, Nash and Olsen Racela. National University has a former Red Cub in Jarin. Adamson University has a Green Archer in Franz Pumaren. University of Santo Tomas has Ayo. Only University of the Philippines has that homegrown coach in Perasol.

If you look at the San Beda Red Lions, Boyet Fernandez didn’t even play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Lyceum’s Topex Robinson made a name for himself with San Sebastian. Letran has a former Bulldog in charge in Jeff Napa. Perpetual Help has a former Red Lion in Frankie Lim. Arellano University has a UE alum in Jerry Codinera. The only homegrown coach is San Sebastian’s Edgar Macaraya.

So, if Silva is it then it’s fine. Besides, Lawrence Chongson who steered UE for a few years didn’t even play for the red and white.

The onus, however, is not only on Silva, but also UE. The school has to get its act together. I find it laughable that they didn’t line up an African player in the last three seasons. Why not? And we’ve seen the departure of many key players who should be suiting up now and by their very presence, make UE a better team. Maybe not championship caliber, but a competitive one.

Silva might not have the pedigree of the others who were considered for the position but here’s something to consider…the folks who turned UE into a power decades ago…well, they also came from Ateneo. Baby Dalupan not only played for the Blue Eagles, but he also captained the team. Plus, he won an NCAA football championship too wearing the blue and white.

Sure, it’s a different time. And maybe Baby—hey, that’s a line from a Buddy Holly song—was the son of UE’s owner, the late Francisco Dalupan, so he had all the support. All I’ll say is, this will be very interesting to follow.

Now they have to be patient because the new coach is hitting the ground running. He will inherit a team that is a mess or not—depending on where you stand. And you really have to wonder what resources were previously committed to the team. They have to give this a shot. Or else, in a few years’ time, they’ll be rebuilding again and the drought…well…will continue.

Nothing is cast in stone yet, but two-time UAAP juniors champion coach Joe Silva is bent on taking his act to the seniors level by way of University of the East.
Silva yesterday said that he’s already ironing out the final details of his impending coaching gig with Red Warriors, who have been left out in the cold following the exit of veteran mentor Derrick Pumaren last December.

“The final talks will be made next week. But most probably (I) will take the job,” he said in an text message straight from Hong Kong where he’s spending a much-deserved break after steering the Ateneo Blue Eaglets back to the juniors cage throne last month.

Silva added that he’s bound to sit down with Ateneo officials within the week to formally tender his resignation.

The development should be a welcome one for the Red Warriors, who have been spending their recent practices under the tutelage of interim coach Melvin Reyes. (Jerome Lagunzad)

MANILA, Philippines – Joe Silva, who steered the Ateneo Blue Eaglets to two UAAP Juniors championships, is now at the coaching helm of the University of the East Red Warriors.

Silva sat behind UE’s bench in the first half during their match against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals. The Red Warriors won, 73-59, behind Alvin Pasaol’s 31 points and 13 rebounds. In the second half of play, Silva now sat on the UE bench, albeit at the far end as interim coach Melvin Reyes handled the squad.

According to UE sources, Reyes will handle the Red Warriors for the duration of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, but Silva will start taking care of practices beginning Thursday, May 3.

“My first day (Tuesday), was like the first day of school,” admitted Silva, who wore red for the match but not with any UE markings. “This was my only red shirt but next game (against Ateneo, ironically, this Friday), I will wear a shirt with ‘UE’ on it.”

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” added Silva. “After I resigned from the Blue Eaglets, I was leaning towards putting up my own business then this offer came. It wasn’t easy because I have been in Ateneo all my life. This means adjusting to a different culture, a different atmosphere. But it is a challenge. And UE has a good team. They areone import away from making the Final Four. That is how I see this team.”

Paul Artadi, who sat on the Red Warriors’ bench, will be joining Silva on the coaching staff.

“We have yet to fill out the rest of the staff,” said Silva. “I will have to sit down with management to discuss that and our next moves.”

“This is a terrific opportunity and I am happy to have accepted it,” concluded Silva.

Of the UE Red Warriors team, the newcomers are Ric Gallardo, who transferred from the Perpetual Help Altas giving the team another front court player, and rookie point guard Paul Manalang from the National University Bullpups where he joins older brother Philip, who is now a senior on the team.